End of Bombing in Cambodia

For John, BLUF:  History may be boring, but it is important.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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1973 – Vietnam War: The USAF bombing of Cambodia ends.

From Wikipedia.

Here is the extract:

August 15 – The U.S. bombing of Cambodia ends, officially halting 12 years of combat activity in Southeast Asia according to the Case–Church Amendment-an act that prohibits military operations in Laos, Cambodia, and North and South Vietnam as a follow-up of the Paris Peace Accords.

This is just a very small note on the last USAF mission into Cambocia.

In August of 1973 I was the Wing Commander's back seater in the F-4E, at Korat RTAFB (Royal Thai Air Force Base).  I had the position because I was an Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner.  Five years laterr I again worked for Colonel Robert Crouch, although several layers down in the NATO Air Headquarters in Naples, Italy (AIRSOUTH).

It was public knowledge that our efforts in support of the Cambodian Military was coming to an end.  The US Congress had voted to quit.  I decided that there would be press present and I further decided that I would not wish to be interviewed.  I didn't expect I would have nice things to say.

So, I took leave and flew back to be with my family in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  Sitting in our Florida Room I watch Colonel Crouch on TV News, nding the last official flight, taxing into his parking spot and deplaning, alonog with Major Paul Schwimm, who was his back seater for the day.  That was my war [termination] protest.

In researching this blog post I came across a New York Times article from 16 August 1973, "No Champagne or Cheers as Last Plane Comes In From Cambodia;" which said the last to land from Cambodia was Captain Lonnie 0. Ratley, an A-7 Pilot.  I knew Lon Rstley, from Ramstein Air Base, in Germany.  He was a Suadron Commander in the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing.

Retired in Lowell, MA, every week I run into Refugees from Cambodia, or their children.  My State Rep is a Cambodian Refugee.  I know a couple of City Councillors, including our Vice Mayor, who are Cambodian Refugees.  Sometimes I apologize for our failure in our support of the Cambodian Army, which led to the Cambodian Genocide.

UPDATED.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Killing of Bobby Fassnacht

For John, BLUF:  it was 50 years ago this last Monday, and it accomplished nothing positive, but created a lot of pain.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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It was 50 years ago today — the Sterling Hall bombing.

From The Althouse Blog! by Professor Althouse, 24 August 2020.

The Blog Post consists of copies of two tweets on the event, from UW-Madison, and the comments. I actually knew Bobby Fassnacht.  He was my Wife's Cousin.  We had just returned from 3+ years in Germany.  It was shocking. He might have had his young son with him.  He had taken him to work before.  Fortunately, not this time.

Our Government treated this more like war than crime.  The "POWs" were released early.  I am, sadly, convinced we learned little.  And not a lot changed as a result of the death of Bobby Fassnacht.  In late 1973 I went back to Southeast Asia, flying missions in Cambodia, which failed to defeat the Khmer Rouge.  As a result I have frequent chances to apologize to my fellow Lowellians that I failed to end the war on a positive note.  One in five here in Lowell are Cambodian Refugees or the descendants thereof.  Including two City Councillors, a State Rep and the Chairman of the Republican City Committee.  And, last term, a member of the School Committee.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff

This Veterans Day

For John, BLUF:  Being a Vet isn’t about the sacrifice, but about the willingness to lay it all on the line.  Many had it worse than me, tramping through the jungles of Viet-nam.  Some gave all, like my wife's late husband, whose plane crashed in the Western Pacific on a peacetime training mission.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Sometimes the herd is wrong

From The Citizen (Fayette County GA), by Mr Terry Garlock, 29 January 2019.

Here is the lede plus two:

Well into the autumn of my life, I am occasionally reminded the end is not too far over the horizon.  Mortality puts thoughts in my head, like, “What have I done to leave this world a better place?”

There actually are a few things that I think made my existence worthwhile.  I will tell you just one of them, because so many of you need to hear it.

No matter how much this rubs the wrong way, I am quite proud to have served my country in the Vietnam War.  Yes, I know, most of you were taught there is shame attached to any role in the war that America lost, an unfortunate mistake, an immoral war, an unwise intrusion into a civil war, a racist war, a war in which American troops committed widespread atrocities, where America had no strategic interest, and that our North Vietnamese enemy was innocently striving to re-unite Vietnam.

I had two tours in Southeast Asia.  My second was in Thailand in 1973.  We were flying missions in support of the Cambodian Government, against the soon to be infamous Khmer Rouge.  But the US Congress, lacking strategic insight, cut off the funding for our operations in mid-summer.

Regards  —  Cliff

Ending the War in Afghanistan

For John, BLUF:  I don't think we can kill our way to peace, and we don't want another Killing Fields outcome, so it will take some imaginative thinking to end this.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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‘Time for this war in Afghanistan to end,’ says departing US commander

From The Boston Globe, by Reporter Mujib Mashal, 3 September 2018.

The origin of the story is The New York Times.

The tone of the story is somewhat down-beat.  We have been there a while, since shortly after 9/11.

The outgoing commander of forces from 41 different nations, US Army General John Nicholson Jr., believes it is time for the Taliban to give peace a try.

Regards  —  Cliff

Modern Slavery

For John, BLUF:  Slavery is still abroad in this world, just more in other parts of the world than here at home.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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North Korea has 2.6 million 'modern slaves,' new report estimates

From The Wash Post, by Mr Adam Taylor, 19 July 2018.

Here is the lede:

North Korea has the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, with 1 out of every 10 citizens considered victims under the practice, according to estimates included in a new report.

Yes, as horrible as a nuclear armed North Korea is, the human rights abuses under the Kim Family Regime is more horrible.

All that said, the final paragraph contains some interesting information.

The Global Slavery Index found that outside of North Korea, the countries with the worst prevalence of slavery were Eritrea, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Afghanistan, Mauritania, South Sudan, Pakistan, Cambodia and Iran.  The report noted that other countries were often complicit through the import of goods at risk of being produced through forced labor — with the United States importing the most at-risk goods of any nations, with $144 billion a year.

Maybe the Progs are rights.  Maybe all those folks shopping at Walmart and Target are propagating slavery around the world.  I say blame the Caucasians.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Pike

For John, BLUF:  People love going to the shore and enjoying amusements.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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A Walk Along Long Beach’s Gaudy, Tawdry, Bawdy Pike

From KCET Broadcasting, Reporter D. J. Waldie, 8 February 2017.

This is great and interesting history from a year ago.

Here is the lede plus one:

Beginning in the late 1880s, the Southern California coast sprouted piers that fronted new beach resorts made accessible by rail.  Most of the piers were connected to amusement zones – miniature Coney Islands – where ballyhoo, fakery, and slightly naughty entertainment brightened working class lives.  This is the story of one of largest of those playgrounds by the sea.

In 1925, Sarah Bixby Smith, who had grown up on the nearby ranchos of Los Cerritos and Los Alamitos in the 1880s, remembered picnicking on the deserted shore at what would become the crowded amusement zone called the Pike.

By 1900, Sarah’s lonely beach had become part of Willmore City (a brief failure) and then Long Beach (which had incorporated, disincorporated, and reincorporated).  The little town – Long Beach hardly more than 2,500 residents then – already had some seaside attractions:  the usual wood-frame hotels, a municipal pier, and “bath houses” for swimmers to button themselves into their flannel “bathing costumes,” as they were called then.

And then it goes from there.

I remember the Pike from the 1950s, with the roller coaster, the Cyclone Racer, and various stalls catering to sailors on shore leave.  One of the things that remains with me is sailors getting the cuffs of their jumper tops embroidered on the inside—"Liberty Cuffs". : One design I remember was a Chinese Dragon.

The location of the "Liberty Cuff" is on the inside, at the light blue ring:

Rolled up, the cuff reveals the dragon, or other design:

I didn't realize, at the time, what a wonderful world I was exploring and learning about.

As a side note, Long Beach is, today, the other big Cambodian-American City in the United States.

Hat tip to my Middle Brother.

Regards  —  Cliff

That Evil Nixon

For John, BLUF:  I am not impressed with this story.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Nixon’s Vietnam Treachery

This is from The New York Times "Sunday Review" and written by Mr John A Farrell.

Here is the lede:

Richard M. Nixon always denied it: to David Frost, to historians and to Lyndon B. Johnson, who had the strongest suspicions and the most cause for outrage at his successor’s rumored treachery.  To them all, Nixon insisted that he had not sabotaged Johnson’s 1968 peace initiative to bring the war in Vietnam to an early conclusion.  “My God. I would never do anything to encourage” South Vietnam “not to come to the table,” Nixon told Johnson, in a conversation captured on the White House taping system.

Mr Farrell says that Mr Nixon lied.

Mr Farrell also missed that the person with "the most cause for outrage" was 1968 Presidential Candidate Hubert Horatio Humphrey, the Happy Warrior, for whom I voted.

Gee, looking back on it, I kind of like Mr Nixon's move.  Having served two tours in Southeast Asia I tend to think the dishonesty is the Democrats who betrayed the South Vietnamese, and the Cambodians.  The peace they brought was the peace of the dead and those in re-education camps and those who became refugees, often at their own peril.

First the Congress cut off our support of Cambodia, in the Summer of 1973, and Pol Pot won that war and we had "Year Zero" in Cambodia, and then the Cambodian Genocide.  Somewhere between a million and a half and three million people died between 1975 and 1979.  I wonder if Mr Johnson, or Mr Farrell are proud of that?

But, then President Nixon was gone and Gerald Ford was the President and North Viet-nam moved on South vier-nam and we didn't go back to help them.  We didn't even give them the logistics support they needed.  Does that make you proud?  Seemed to make the Democrats proud.

And, frankly, I became disenchanted with the Democrats.

Regards  —  Cliff

Two Events Tonight

For John, BLUF:  Things happening tonight.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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First there is Kam Kay and the City Council:

My friend Kam Kay asks you to join him and others at the City Council Meeting, (City Council Chambers) tonight at 6:30 to strongly urge our officials to not host LTG Hun Manet from Cambodia, given his, and his Father's, wrong approach to politics.

At one time, back in 1973, I helped fight the Khymer Rouge and think this is a worthy cause Kam Kay is backing.

As an aside, looking at Facebook posts, I saw one comment from Sikh Chum, using the term "Khmericans in Lowell", which I thought was clever and very American.

Then there is Ann Wofford Announcing her run for US Congress:

If going to a City Council Meeting is not your thing, there is always the Announcement of Ann Wofford's run for US Representative, against Ms Niki Tsongas.

Here are the details:

Ann Wofford Campaign Kick Off for U.S. Congress, 3rd District
The Real Change We Need

Tuesday, March 29
at 7 PM
at Cobblestones in Lowell

See you there  —  Cliff

Note:  Parking GPS location is 75 Arcand Drive (private lot opposite police station, 2nd lot on right just past Cobblestones)

www.woffordforcongress.com

Regards  —  Cliff

Harsh Language from Moscow

For John, BLUF:  It is never as easy as our Government Official tell us it will be.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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This from USA Today, Putin calls Kerry a liar:

The apparent question is al Qaeda influence on the Syrian rebels, an issue Kerry has downplayed.

Speaking to his human rights council on Wednesday, Putin said: "This was very unpleasant and surprising for me.  We talk to them (the Americans) and we assume they are decent people, but he is lying and he knows that he is lying. This is sad."

Who knew that Russia had a Human Rights Council?  I wonder what it does?

But, back to the issue at hand, it doesn't appear we are building a consensus around the world on this Syria issue.

Have I mentioned that I am hoping the US Congress says No?  This has all the appearance of an open-ended, Gulf of Tonkin, kind of thing.  That was 7 August 1964.  In August of 1973 I was on my second tour of duty in Southeast Asia, flying combat missions over Cambodia.  Nine years.  Then we pulled out and a couple of million people were murdered by the Khmer Rouge.  And it all started with a small military action to show North Viet-nam that they were doing wrong.♠

As a mind game, ask yourself what we should do next if, after our use of some 150 Cruise Missiles, Syrian Government Forces use chemical weapons [again].

UPDATE:  Updated to insert a link in the footnote to an article on CIA training of Syrian Rebels.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Well, it started before that, but that was when the US Congress authorized the use of military force (AUMF) by the US President.  That was when we openly attacked targets in North Viet-nam.  Before that we were training and advising the South Viet-namese (read Syrian Rebels) and providing them weapons and ammunition and other support.

Cambodian Vote Results Delayed

For John, BLUF:  Some solutions require a little patience.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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This is an unusually long lede for The International Herald Tribune:

Cambodia’s state election body said Friday that it would postpone its announcement of the final results from last month’s general election, a move that could ease fears of violence over opposition protests. The National Election Committee made the announcement after the government acknowledged moving armored vehicles and troops into the capital, Phnom Penh, to keep order if a threatened protest by the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party spins out of control. The opposition has challenged the Cambodian People’s Party’s claim that it won the July 28 election and charges that there were widespread irregularities. The Election Committee said it would release the results later because its own investigations of irregularities had not been completed.

And it is the full story.

The good news is that the leaders of various parties are working on solving this problem.  And, it isn't like it has gone to 200 ballots, like one issue in the local area here in the Lowell area.♠

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Yes, I am referring, in a light hearted way, to the Greater Lowell Technical High School School Committee search for a new Superintendent.  And, yes, I do think that an even number of board members is a good idea.  A five to four decision on such a matter would signal to me (1) a serious lack of consensus and (2) a sign of troubles ahead.  They need to keep working this problem.

"We Will Not Accept The Result"—Sam Rainsy

For John, BLUF:  Election results in Cambodia stir controversy.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From today's edition of The International Herald Tribune we have this article, by Reporter Thomas Fuller, on the results of the the elections over the weekend in Cambodia.  Here is the lede and following paragraph:

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia faced a volatile and possibly prolonged political standoff on Monday after leaders of the opposition said they rejected the preliminary results of Sunday’s election and accused the authoritarian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen of large-scale cheating.

“We will not accept the result — we cannot accept the result,” Sam Rainsy, leader of the newly energized opposition, said Monday at a news conference. “The party in power cannot ignore us any more.”

Democracy is a messy process, but that it is happening in a nation from which we draw many of our residents is a good thing.

Regards  —  Cliff

Hot Cambodian Election

For John, BLUF:  Lowell connections overseas.

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The National Elections in Cambodia are making the news, including The International Herald Tribune.

And, a Cambodian Politician familiar to Lowell, Mr Sam Rainsy, was mentioned.

The opposition was galvanized by the return last Friday of Sam Rainsy, a former finance minister who fled Cambodia in 2009 rather than face charges in a highly politicized trial.  Mr. Sam Rainsy, who was greeted by tens of thousands of supporters at the Phnom Penh airport, was pardoned by Mr. Hun Sen under pressure from the United States and other governments that provide aid to the country.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Exile Returns

For John, BLUF:  Unlike our Commonwealth, there seems to be democratic competition in Cambodia.

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Headline in Chinese newspaper Xin Hau, article by Reporter Nguon Sovan.

Huge crowds greet Cambodian opposition chief's return from exile

PHNOM PENH, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's charismatic opposition leader Sam Rainsy returned to his homeland on Friday after spending nearly four years abroad in self-imposed exile to avoid an 11-year prison sentence on charges of disinformation and destruction of public property.

This report was confirmed by Bloomberg News, Mr Daniel Ten Kate reporting, HERE.

Cambodia’s Sam Rainsy Returns to Cheers Before Vote Here is the lede and subsequent paragraph:  

Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy arrived in Phnom Penh nine days before a national election, ending a four-year exile after receiving a royal pardon for charges he says were politically motivated.

Thousands of cheering supporters greeted Sam Rainsy, who stood on a makeshift stage at the airport to greet the crowd, according to live footage on his Cambodia National Rescue Party’s website.  The former finance minister has lived abroad since 2009 to avoid jail time for falsifying maps and inciting racial discrimination.

Sam is one of the good guys, no?

Regards  —  Cliff

Working Together in Cambodia

For John, BLUF:  US and Cambodian forces working together.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

How many of us follow Voice of America (VOA)?  Not as many as follow City Life, I suspect.  Thus, I will quote this Wednesday, 22 May 2013 item in full.  By the way, if you wish, you can Watch and Listen to VOA in Khmer

This item it titled Military Exercises Begin Between US, Cambodian Forces. The author is Suy Heimkhemra, VOA Khmer, and she wrote the piece on 17 May

PHNOM PENH - Joint military exercises between Cambodian and US forces began Thursday morning, the first of four days at training center outside Phnom Penh.

The Angkor Sentinel exercises, held at the National Training Center for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces in Kampong Speu province, is the fourth to be held since 2010.

More than 300 Cambodian troops will take part in the training, which aims at improving their capability to take part in UN peacekeeping operations.

Moeung Samphan, secretary of state for the Ministry of Defense, said the training would further strengthen military ties between Cambodia and the US.

“This training is really appreciated, and significant for building and strengthening Cambodia’s military capacity to have professional skills, knowledge and real practice to effectively respond to the UN peacekeeping missions,” he said.

Exercises will be held at the command post and field training levels, including in the use of equipment to counter improvised explosive devices, officials said.

Jeff Daigle, deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy, said the exercises would put together Cambodian peacekeepers who are ready to be deployed in the field with US military personnel with extensive operational experience.

“This type of exercise is really important for helping the capability of the Cambodians for them to deploy,” he said. Cambodia has already made significant contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts outside of Cambodia, and the Angkor Sentinel exercises will help the continue to do so, he said. “And the American side is learning, as well,” he said.

Decades ago I provided close air support to Cambodian forces, in an unsuccessful battle against the Khmer Rouge.  Maybe if the US Congress hadn't told us to stop those sorties it would have turned out differently.  But, Richard Nixon was President and the Congress, controlled by the Democrats, felt that President Nixon was improperly and immorally extending the war that we had inherited from the French and which had been joined in ernest by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.  I wish I had done a better job back in 1973.

Regards  —  Cliff

Khmer Rouge Ieng Sary, (RIP)

For John, BLUF:  This Khmer Rouge co-founder has escaped the judgement of his fellow citizens.

Here is the headline from the Associated Press, today, Thursday, 14 March 2013, "Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary dies amid trial over atrocities that killed 1.7M Cambodians".

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Ieng Sary, who co-founded the communist Khmer Rouge regime responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians in the 1970s, and who decades later became one of its few leaders to be put on trial, died Thursday before his case could be finished.  He was 87.

A lot of suffering summed up in that lede paragraph.

Regards  —  Cliff